Laura Whitmore has shared the final text exchanges between herself and Caroline Flack on the fifth anniversary of Flack’s passing. Flack, who gained fame as the host of ITV’s Love Island, tragically took her own life on February 15, 2020, at the age of 40. The Irish TV presenter posted a photo of the two of them together, along with screenshots of their WhatsApp conversation, where she informed Flack about her new role as the presenter of Love Island.
In the messages, Flack expressed that it was “perfect” for Whitmore to take on the show alongside her partner Iain Stirling, who narrates the series, and followed her message with several heart emojis. Flack hosted the reality dating show from 2015 to 2019, with Whitmore stepping in for the 2020 season. Maya Jama took over the role in 2023.
In her post, Whitmore, 39, mentioned, “I got a new phone this month and while trying to download WhatsApp messages from my cloud, many old messages appeared—ones I thought I had lost years ago. It really hit me hard.” She reflected on the private messages that had never been shared publicly, stating, “Media outlets wrote a lot far from the actual truth. I think they show a side to Caroline that is nice to remember, which is why I’m sharing now.”
Whitmore recalled meeting Flack when she took over hosting duties for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! NOW!, noting, “She was as supportive of me then as she was when she backed me for Love Island in 2020. Both were great shows with many people relying on them.” She expressed gratitude for the last messages exchanged between them.
Whitmore added, “Every time I’ve been asked to speak about the situation or participate in a documentary, I decline. I’ve said all I can about the tragedy and need to prioritize my own mental health. This was the last correspondence I ever had with her.” She concluded, “The last message from her to me was filled with love hearts. I’d like to think that wherever she is now, she’s at peace and in a lovely place.
